Porsche is introducing a high performance diesel model to its Cayenne range in the form of the Cayenne S Diesel.

The 4.2-litre eight-cylinder engine with twin turbo chargers produces 281 kW of power and maximum torque of 850 Nm. This thrusts the new Cayenne S Diesel to top marks in both dynamic performance and efficiency.

The new diesel completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds on its way to a 252 km/h top speed, while fuel consumption is just 8.3 litres per 100 km (CO2: 218 g/km). One factor contributing to this excellent value is the auto start/stop function – the Cayenne S Diesel the only SUV with a diesel V8 to offer this functionality.
The driving experience of the newest addition to the Cayenne range is typically Porsche, combining an emotional V8 engine sound with punchy, smooth performance.
The Cayenne S Diesel features PTM active all-wheel drive, tuned to give the driving qualities of a rear-wheel drive. The front wheels only intervene to provide drive when extra stability and traction are needed. Optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) adds further dynamics to the SUV’s already excellent sporty handling.

The deep reserves of torque of the V8 engine of the Cayenne S Diesel are well suited to towing; the SUV earning a 3.5 tonne towing capacity. It also takes on the role of a long-distance champion: based on its NEDC fuel consumption the Cayenne S Diesel with its 100-litre fuel tank (standard for New Zealand) can be driven a distance of about 1,200 km without having to stop to refuel.
The new top diesel model has the same sporty exterior and hardware as the V8 petrol Cayenne S. The brake system, for example, has been sized to handle the car’s output and is identified by its silver brake calipers. The black fins at the front end emphasise the open air inlets. As on the Cayenne Diesel, the “diesel” badges at the front guards identify the type of V8 power while the model badge at the rear identifies it as a Cayenne S.

New Zealand deliveries will commence around April of 2013 with local specification and pricing to be announced shortly.

Despite the global recession and continued economic uncertainty, the world’s premium car brands are enjoying big sales and profits. The reason comes from the emerging markets such as China and Russia where expensive luxury and performance cars are in hot demand.

Ferrari, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz have all announced record profits recently, and now Porsche is joining the fray with the announcement that its profits are up a staggering 59 percent compared with the same period last year.

In the first half of 2011, Porsche was busy generating an operating profit of $1.54 billion USD. There was a 26.3 percent increase in sales to 56,272 vehicles, and with the all-new 2012 Porsche 911 expected later this year, sales figures are expected to continue to climb. Continue reading “Porsche profits up a massive 59 percent” »

The styling of Porsche’s high-riding Cayenne has never appealed to all tastes and this has made it suitable fodder for every aftermarket tuner who wants a crack. The latest attack on the model’s bulky lines comes from Germany’s Lumma Design who is an old hand at reworking German performance sedans but is new to the Cayenne.

The result is called the CLR 558 GT, and sees the Porsche receive a full body kit including a new front end with spoiler, larger air intakes and integrated LED running lights, a rear diffuser, flared wheel guards and side skirting. The stock bonnet has been scrapped and replaced with a ventilated carbon-fibre job and the exhaust is now a triple-tipped stainless system system. New wheels are required with any tuning job and Lumma Design has opted for huge 22-inch modulars with colour-coded surrounds.

The Cayenne isn’t known as Porsche’s most beautiful model, but most have become familiar with the shape and the current model has improved aesthetically. But aftermarket tuner TechArt has different plans and continues to stage an assault on the senses of Porsche fans with it’s latest take on the road-focused SUV.

It sure isn’t pretty but it will be up to those attending this week’s Geneva Motor show to reserve judgement on this beast. To turn the Cayenne even uglier, TechArt bolted on a more aggressive front bumper, extended the wheel arches and dropped on a ventilated bonnet. It wasn’t enough to just do over the face either, so TechArt modified the side sills, put on a prominent rear spoiler and added massive alloy wheels. Sounds better than it looks.

Under the bonnet there is much more impressive work. The twin-turbo V8 engine has been outfitted with a TA 058/T1 power kit which helps it produce a whopping 412 kW and 780 Nm of torque – an increase of 44 kW and 80 Nm over the standard Cayenne Turbo. Thanks to the extra gusto, the Magnum can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 15.8 seconds, and hit a top speed of 287 km/h for the brave.

German specialist tuner Hamann, has just revealed its new body kit for the new generation 2011 Porsche Cayenne. Officially named the Hamann 2011 Porsche Cayenne aerodynamics package, the kit includes a new front spoiler with integrated LED daytime running lights, new side skirts, a rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and a reworked 100% carbon fibre bonnet with air scoops.

Packing out the guards are massive 23-inch alloy rims with 315/25 R 23 tyres. The ride height is lowered by 35mm and the Porsche SUV uses a modified air suspension set up.

The Hamann tweaked Cayenne Diesel recieves power upgrades as well including a re-mapped ECU that increases output to 202 kW between 4,000 and 4,400 rpm and 620 Nm of torque between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm. The standard model develops 176 kW at 4,000 – 4,400 rpm and 550 Nm at 2,000 – 2,250 rpm. To keep it sounding bold the reworked Cayenne is also fitted with a new, custom-made, exhaust system.

Pricing and availability has not been announced yet. Check out images of Hamann’s Porsche Cayenne in the gallery below.

Gallery

Ten cars, ranging from mainstream models from Japan and Korea through to exclusive European luxury machines have been selected as finalists for the 2010 New Zealand Car of the Year Award.

Voted for annually by more than three dozen established motoring journalists, each of whom is a member of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, the award is the country’s most comprehensive. It is also the most respected by the car industry itself, being the embodiment of the opinions of experts representing every automotive medium.

This includes the motoring sections of the country’s major daily and weekly newspapers, several automotive websites, car and lifestyle magazines, and a number of radio and television outlets.

Over several months, the Guild’s Car of the Year committee has assembled its shortlist of finalists, which has been selected from all new models launched in New Zealand during the 12 months prior to 1 November 2009.

The cars on the 2010 shortlist include (in alphabetical order) the new Audi A5, the latest iteration of the BMW 5-series, Hyundai’s recently launched iX35 small SUV, the radical new Jaguar XJ saloon, and the Kia Sportage SUV. A pair of Peugeots — the striking new RCZ sport car and 3008 crossover – have also made the cut as finalists, as has the second-generation Porsche Cayenne, the Skoda Yeti mini-SUV and Suzuki’s first full-sized saloon, the Kizashi.

As automotive efficiency becomes more and more important for all car makers, even hardcore sportscar manufacturers have decided to look at providing more efficient speed. Now, in a bold move, Porsche has taken it one step further, committing to a hybrid version of each of its model lines in an attempt to get its average CO2 emissions down to 216 g/km by 2015 (from the current 255 g/km).

“In the future, we will have hybrid drive in every model line,” Porsche’s development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer, said in a recent press conference.

After the hybrid Cayenne and the upcoming Panamera hybrid is released, Porsche is set to up the ante with the hybrid 918 Spyder (pictured) as a halo car to get attention and learn more about the new path the company is taking.

Other efficiency-raising efforts also include a 10-percent reduction in weight, increased use of carbon fibre bodywork and there’s even talk of returning to four-cylinder engines in some models, likely with forced induction and direct injection.

“If the CO2 guidelines require it, then our engines will become smaller and may have just four cylinders,” Duerheimer said. “The important thing is that the performance has to be right. The 911 must always be on the cutting edge.”

In 2003, Porsche surprised the motoring world and shocked badge fans with the introduction of the first Cayenne. Critics at the time thought the Cayenne would prove a modern day ‘Spruce Goose’ for the German carmaker but fortune favours the bold and Porsche were quickly on to a sales winner. Despite grumblings about the Cayenne’s styling and plus size figure it has gone on to sell almost 300,000 units worldwide and rescue Porsche from the brink of financial hardship. But the Cayenne was more than just a sales success; it showed that a full size SUV could genuinely push the sensory buttons of a driver seeking a sporty steer. Now for 2011, Porsche has unveiled its second-generation Cayenne and despite the large boots to fill its built to be more advanced in every area. Car and SUV took flight in the next-gen Cayenne to find out just how good it really is.

Porsche has clearly taken many of the criticisms of the first-generation Cayenne to heart, not least the attacks on the exterior styling. The overall design looks sleeker and lower so the Cayenne can no longer be described as an obese 911 wearing a Mumu. Porsche has stuck with sports car design cues borrowed from the Carrera like the front guards but there are also elements of the new Panamera included, particularly in the headlight shape. The gaping front air intake now has a more menacing look and the Porsche badge has been repositioned on to the dipping bonnet. While it’s easy for the eye to be fooled, the new Cayenne is actually slightly larger in all directions. With the wheelbase extended there is little rear overhang and the back doors are longer for easier entry and exit. The rear also appears trimmer with a new lighter one-piece tailgate design.